Today [3 March], 10 human rights organizations in Israel wrote to the Defense Minister and the Commander of Military Forces in the West Bank, sharply protesting the denial of the freedom of movement of Shawan Jabarin, executive director of the Palestinian human rights organization al-Haq. Since Jabarin was appointed, in 2006, Israel has not allowed him to leave the West Bank. The organizations called for the prohibition on Jabarin's exiting the West Bank be lifted. Otherwise, he will be prevented from obtaining a prestigious award for al-Haq's work in advancing human rights.
Between 1999 and 2006, Jabarin was permitted to leave the West Bank eight times. Since his appointment as executive director of al-Haq, however, the Israeli authorities have not permitted him to go abroad. Three petitions that Jabarin filed in the Israeli High Court of Justice against the prohibition were denied, based on privileged material provided to the court, on the grounds that he is active in the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. Jabarin was given no opportunity to confront the allegations against him, and was never questioned or summoned for interrogation.
Last month, al-Haq and B'Tselem were jointly awarded the “Geuzen Resistance 1940-1945” prize. Jabarin is scheduled to accept the award on behalf of al-Haq at a ceremony to be held on 13 March. Three weeks ago, he was informed that he is still prohibited from exiting the West Bank by the Commander of Military Forces in the West Bank.
In their letter, the organizations point out that freedom of movement is a fundamental human right enshrined in international and Israeli law. Prohibiting a person to go abroad, a severe impediment to freedom of movement, is permissible only in exceptional cases, when no other option is available.
On Thursday, 5 March , at 11:30 A.M., the Isreali High Court will hear another petition of Jabarin, filed by attorney Micha'el Sfard, against the movement prohibition imposed on him.
Participating organizations:
Adalah - the Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel, The Association for Civil Rights in Israel, Bimkom - Planners for Planning Rights, B'Tselem - The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories, Gisha - Legal Center for Freedom of Movement, Hamoked: Center for the Defence of the Individual, The Public Committee Against Torture in Israel, Physicians for Human Rights-Israel, Yesh Din: Volunteers for Human Rights, Rabbis for Human Rights
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